It is called “I am a Woman with #metastable Carcinoma” and is the campaign launched by the IncontraDonna Onlus association dedicated to the over 37,000 women who live in Italy with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. A growing number that highlights the great strides made by medical-scientific research.
The initiative
In addition to initiatives on social networks, the campaign also includes a cycle of three webinars in which experts from the scientific community participate and a dedicated survey on the perception of the ‘metastatic’ theme. The initiative is carried out with the non-conditioning contribution of Seagen and was presented yesterday at the first online event dedicated to women and caregivers residing in Central Italy. “In our country there is little and unwilling talk of metastatic breast cancer”, says Adriana Bonifacino, President of IncontraDonna Onlus: “The latest scientific studies have amply demonstrated how median survival is progressively and steadily increasing in all subtypes of carcinoma mammary. The term ‘metastatic’ must therefore be cleared of the negative meaning to which it is still associated too often. It is, in fact, a curable disease even if not yet curable “.
What does the word “curable” mean
Confusion about the meaning of the two terms often risks generating rejection reactions on the part of the woman during and after the moment of diagnosis. With our new campaign we want to promote greater awareness and promote information that is increasingly correct and responsible at 360 degrees. We will conduct a scientific literacy process by promoting key concepts on the topic of metastatic breast cancer, through an effective and scientifically appropriate language. The ultimate goal is to make women understand how it is possible to live with the disease. These are forms of cancer that can become chronic and thanks to the new therapies available ”.
So far in Italy numerous communication activities have been carried out that have focused above all on non-metastatic forms of breast cancer – explains the oncologist: these are campaigns aimed at the majority of women who manage to achieve recovery. For this reason, metastatic patients often report being left alone and at the mercy of unclear, confused and in any case not comforting information. “As IncontraDonna Onlus we have therefore decided to take up their cry of pain and to promote a new and unusual national campaign”.
More attention to advanced breast cancer. Which is another disease
“Today we can slow down the progression of cancer and at the same time guarantee a good quality of life – explains Paolo Marchetti, Professor of Oncology DMCM Sapienza University of Rome and President of the Foundation for Personalized Medicine -. More and more innovative and effective therapeutic treatments have radically changed the lives of millions of women around the world. This is demonstrated by the fact that over the past 30 years we have witnessed a steady decline in mortality. This is also due to the personalization of the treatments that we have obtained thanks to a greater biological knowledge of the various forms of cancer. Breast cancer is the most widespread and frequent in Italy and every year new diagnoses amount to more than 55 thousand. In total, over 834,000 women live after a diagnosis. Those with metastatic breast cancer represent a minority which, however, deserves greater attention from the scientific community, the media and institutions “. “It was important to establish the national day dedicated to metastatic breast cancer on October 13”, declared the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza in the video message he sent for the webinar of IncontraDonna Onlus: “It is an event that allows us to keep our attention on a decisive issue that affects everyone’s life”.
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